A blog containing random thoughts, bits of life, creations from my art room and tales of a cat named Orlando and a puppy named Siddy

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Happy Birthday Siddy!

So many of you who have been following along, these past two years especially, are familiar with possibly the best puppy in the whole world. For our new friends and casual readers, here’s a wee overview of the boy himself and for our longtime friends I hope you enjoy the recap.

Two years ago today a little Shih Tzu and random mixture puppy came into the world.

He was still so tiny when I met him at six weeks old

And took him home – even though I was at first reluctant to take on this little ball of energy …..

Orlando and I did not know what had hit us!

But I quickly discovered I had been found by my own personal happiness guru

He was named Sid-Arthur, for Siddhartha the Prince who became the Buddha. I had no idea at the time how fortuitous that was.

Orlando meanwhile had retired to the top of the refrigerator and other high places and there he spent most of the ensuing year

But even he eventually caved – how could he resist?

Who knew one little black and white ball of happiness could change my life so completely?

Happy Birthday Siddy – 2 years old today

He made a gif with his second favourite person for your amusement

And today he will celebrate being a big boy by visiting the older students at the Sara Cohen School for Special Needs who have just completed a module on how to interact with dogs.

Soon he will be visiting a local Retirement Home to spread even more of his particular brand of joy. Life is going to get busy for Siddy the Happiness Guru!

wow-two years has passed! I can hardly believe it:-) It seems like yesterday you broght Siddy home and Orlando started perching on the fridge:-) What a great idea for him a “therapy dog” and a neat way to give back to others:-) HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY SIDDY!!!!

What fun it was to read this, knowing almost every part of the story. I definitely remember the photos of Orlando looking down from the top of the fridge or some other high place. I also remember his first real hair cut!
The part i didn’t know is of Siddy’s good works …. visiting folks who need cheering 🙂 I can only imagine the joy that sweet boy will bring to those he visits.
Such a fun post, Pauline. Happy Birthday, Siddy!

Happy Birthday Siddy ! You’re getting cuter by the minute. I especially enjoyed the GIF you young Ms D have made. It’s quite possible that it be impossible for you to take a bad photo. It’s no wonder that mom is head over heals for you. We did worry for a bit there when you first arrived in a whirl of hyper-activity because Orlando seemed pretty miffed at the idea. Now to see you snoozing in a pile of happiness together and that makes me smile. What a complete joy you are for mommy and O. Good job, good gracious, good boy. Loving hugs all around xo K

Good Morning dear Boomdee!! Siddy agrees with every word you have left here and sends you a nudge and a lick to say a doggie thanks. We are off for our morning walk soon, it’s another beautiful autumnal day and we must make the most of it he says! Places to go, spots to pee on …….. 🙂 xoxo

Happy birthday Siddy! It sounds like a match made in heaven with a mama who loves you to pieces and you loving her right back as well as providing her with great joy. AND you’re sharing your joy with others…… that is just downright awesome! Go Siddy!♡

Happy birthday, Siddy! Sounds like you and your family had a wonderful day.
Thank you for sharing his story, Pauline. I didn’t know you back then when Siddy came into your life. I love the way he is enriching the lives of others too. What a generous thing to do, sharing him with the children at school and retirees in the village. You are both wonderful!

We will let Suddi have the “Best dog in the world” title for his work with kids and the elderly. Earl salutes him and says that he has something particularly nefarious that he was saving for himself to roll in, buried out the back that he is going to give to Suddi for his “birfdai”. Here’s to many MANY more for Siddy the wonderdog 🙂

I’m sure he will. Mr Hicks is quite exceptional in that he’s really well behaved, he’s just so pleased initially to see people – even at his age – they get a really bouncy greeting. Although if we walk into a pub he doesn’t bounce – never has, even when he knows people. So he’d probably be fine, but he’s a big dog and probably isn’t enough 😦 Good luck with Siddy. Look forward to reading about his visits.

I wonder if the bouncy greeting thing ever really stops? People coming to the house get a greeting that is really over the top despite all attempts to damp it down a bit. Out of the house the greeting is really polite. I’m hoping any assessing that goes on isn’t done on his own patch! 🙂

Happy Belated Birthday, Siddy. Always a day late and a dollar short here. What a happy post!! He is still adorable as always and I am so happy to see Siddy and Orlando snuggling together. Such a wonderful lot of photos and cartoons. What a delight that Siddy has a real job as a volunteer. All dogs want jobs. Cats want servants. I’m anxious to hear how it all goes. I got lost in the comments so it took me awhile to get here. Even they are fun. We have a rain day so I get to stay indoors and read posts. :))) Giant squishy hugs to all in the house. 🙂

That is so true – dogs and work; cats and servants 🙂 The day went a little differently than I thought it would – but we had a great time and he had a special day and thoroughly enjoyed himself until I took away his big treat to save some for tomorrow and he thought that wasn’t right!! Hope your rain clears soon and the spring sun shines and warms the world for you xoxo

Oh, that face! This has turned out so well, for all three of you. I’m glad Orlando came around and that he and Siddy reached detente and I cannot imagine the joy Siddy will bring, as a therapy pup. I wish I could be there, to give him a big birthday snuggle!

I join with Delia in wishing Siddy a Happy Birthday. And Pussy Cat sends her love as well – although both want Siddy to know that they are much older and hope they get the respect age demands.
Love the photos – especially the ones of Siddy and Orlando together.

Thank you Bruce, Delia and Pussy Cat. Bruce, Please assure Delia and Pussy Cat that Siddy is very respectful of aged friends. He has been raised knowing that cats are higher on the hierarchy scale than he, which has made life so much easier for Orlando and has a knock on effect for most cats [except the one that lives by the park and teases him!]

What an eloquent way to describe so accurately the way dogs get into your heart! We used to take both of our Yorkies into the nursing home when visiting my father in law and they made a huge impact on the residents and the staff. It’s funny how Orlando couldn’t resist his charms in the end, too. Happy Birthday Siddy!

Thanks Sheila. There are lots of silly rules here about dogs and facilities, so we have to go through several hoops to get accepted into recognised programmes. Siddy has to prove himself to be ‘mature’ and ‘social’ and ‘obedient’ to get the stamp of approval. They don’t come much more friendly and willing to do the right thing than this pup 🙂

I am happy to learn of the Sara Cohen school and to read a bit about the programs. There is a program here called Animal Assisted Happiness that takes young farm animals to visit children in schools with special needs. They also have field trips to their farm as well. Your post made me happy, Pauline. You make me happy. xo

Yes, there are several programmes operating here that enable students to interact with different kinds of animals. Bureaucracy is slow to appreciate the curative properties of healthy interactions for all kinds of people with animals, but it is slowly becoming more acceptable. I’m really looking forward to being able to include Siddy in some suitable programmes.

Happy birthday, Siddy. You’re getting cuter by the minute, you little fur ball you. I’m excited to hear about your upcoming gigs. You’re going to be winning even more hearts as you go about meeting seniors who will be so appreciative of your charms.

One piece of advice, dear pup: remember your friends and don’t let fame go to your head. Oh wait: that advice is better suited to cats. What was I thinking!

If anyone ever doubted your charms, just look at the way you’ve won over that handsome chap Orlando. I’ll be visiting NZ sooner or later, and very much look forward to meeting you. xo

Pauline, a belated Happy Second Birthday to dear, sweet and adorable Siddy! ❤ ❤
Thank goodness for Orlando, who made it through almost one year of resisting Siddy's charms. xoxo
I love my grandchildren but if I had none, I would wish for a Siddy to get me out for a walk, play pal and friend who would brighten my days and nights. I really liked the photos right from the start and my Mom's Nicki, a shih-tzu, also still is around (at my brother and sister in law's) for over ten years.
Mom would blow kisses to Siddy and tell you to Pat him on the head. She adored those early puppy photos, when I visited her. Have a wonderful week ahead. I am excited to hear you are sharing Siddy with both ends of the age spectrum. 🙂

Pauline, thanks for asking about my Mom. She sees Nicki once in awhile since her accident last August. My youngest brother visits 3 times a week and brings Nicki once a week.
After the accident, we emphasized that the pain in her upper thigh and shoulder were caused by Nicki pulling her towards a slippery wet hill and her losing her step. It was my thought that being dramatic “works” with children. What makes me sad is all kinds of dogs, one dalmatian,collies and shelties my parents have had, none of them took off like Nicki did. It took an hour to catch Nicki. My Mom laid twisted at the bottom of the hill as an observer ran to help her. A housekeeper at the Senior apts. caught her finally while my brother went to the hospital.
Poor Mom struggles with her own daily cleaning up after herself (incontinence which requires diligence) and realizes it would overcome her and stress her out. Her visiting nurse giving her meds and the inability to write letters upsets her more than the dog gone. When Nicki sees my Mom, she cries until Mom sits down and someone puts the dog on her lap. Nicki does care a lot about my sister in law and brother when Mom isn’t around. She follows them around. She is 15 years old and is going blind. They have a doggy door and Nicki with the other dogs play in back yard often. 🙂

A very happy birthday to sweet, sunny Siddy. Kisses and hugs coming at you from across the Atlantic. I admit I am an animal lover. I think animals bring all kinds of good nourishing things to the human soul. They give us so much and ask so little. Siddy you’re the best little Siddy in the whole wide world. Happy Birthday again sweet, sunny little boy.

Now why is it I can only press ‘like’ once? It is a failing the Happiness Engineers need to resolve, or maybe your own Font of Happiness would have an idea. He looks gorgeous (well apart from the hat and tie – noooooo, think of his future friends sniggering – cruel parent!) Is there cake?

Ah, happy birthday to little Siddy! Lovely set of pictures too. It’s great that he’s spreading his happiness to old and young alike. I love that he’s helped those Special kids with their vocational module…I’m going to keep pressing for a departmental dog 😀

It’s such a great thing to have a quiet dog around the school Jenny. I hope you are successful in your pressing – the positives far outweigh the negatives! Siddy is still very young, but he shows every sign of developing the quiet, steadiness required for interacting with students and the elderly. I’m so proud 🙂

Happy Birthday Siddy – what an absolutely adorable fur baby he is! It makes me smile just looking at these wonderful pictures so I can only imagine the amount of joy he will bring to the students and senior citizens when he visits 🙂

How auspicious that you called the little guy Siddhartha. I had a dog named Amazing Grace…a larger hound, but she was a wonderful one to take to the nursing home when visiting my Dad in his last year…something very beautiful always lit up in the eyes of the people who lived there…especially those who had known and loved a dog in their past. Dogs are not the whole of life, but they do seem to make our lives whole. Your Siddy is unbearably cute…and I could say more, but I don’t want the keys of my laptop to get wet. Happy Birthday!

I love the names you give your pets! I was pondering about ‘Grace’ last night and thinking back on my own journey to see how prevalent has been her attendance on me ………. The song of course soared along in the background of my ponderings. You were in my thoughts as I prepared this post.

Happy Birthday to Siddy, our Happiness Guru! Pauline, as I’ve told you, I’m terrified of dogs, even puppies, but I have a feeling if Siddy was nearby, this phobia of mine will be cured!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos. I bet the children at special needs school and the seniors at the retirement will love and adore him. Have a great week! xoxoxo

Aw…Happy Birthday to my sweet Siddy! He is the perfect ambassador to spread happiness.That’s a great thing you’re doing, Pauline. My 88 year old aunt gets so much joy when she’s visited by a local puppy at her assisted living facility! Siddy is looking so handsome wearing his birthday hat. xo

I’ve been waiting for a year for him to get mature enough to visit the old folks Jill. Several of the residents line up at the windows to wave to us in the morning as we pass by, some blow him kisses. I think it will be good for all of us 🙂